We asked some of our 'Power Users' how they got involved in music and how they use FL Studio.

Varien has appeared on Skrillex's 'Bangerang EP' and his track 'Mirrors' took Beatport's #1 Drum and bass charts in less than 72 hours after it was released. We caught up with Varien to find out more about him and his work so far...

Unconventional instrumentation protagonist

Tell us about your music and yourself?

I like to combine the traditional and unconventional in a familiar setting. I love to use orchestral instruments, electric guitars, hang drums... things like blown bottles, Amen breaks and kalimbas but in the genres of dubstep, drumstep, electro and more!

The combination of synth noises and organic noises lends itself to very unique textures! I personally am a jazz trained multi-instrumentalist from Tampa, FL and I love all music from progressive metal to gypsy jazz to electro house.

I have been in metal bands, have produced everything from trip hop to breakcore and just genuinely enjoy the music making process! Varien is the synthesis of all of the above, but in the median of modern, club-friendly electronic dance music.

I also compose soundtracks to video games and short films!

How did you get into music?

I've always been around music. Since day one I was exposed to people like Beethoven, Pantera, Rush, The Moody Blues, etc. It only seemed natural to continue my journey and eventually I self-taught myself piano, music theory and production!

Varien's Mirrors slams Beatport

How did you come to use FL Studio & what were your first impressions?

I got FL Studio 8 at 19, sat down and did nothing but learn learn learn. I tried other DAWs like Ableton and Reason, but nothing got my ideas out faster and better than FL Studio. I loved it when I first picked it up and I love it to this day.

Tell us about your production environment & toys?

My production environment is pretty simple actually! I have some Samson Resolv A8 monitors, an M-Audio Keystation 49e and thats about it! I am mostly a software person, and I have quite a collection of sample libraries I use with Native Instruments Kontakt.

"I found the demo while searching on the internet for a program that I could create drumloops with. I ended up finding FL studio and have been hooked ever since. It is more addictive than crack (not that I have tried that)."

"... stumbled across FL while surfing. I tried it and immediately Loved it. I was still into hardware at the time but slowly over the last few years have transferred my work to PC exclusively with FLS."